Barnard Castle town councillor apologises for comments made in email

PEACE has broken out at Barnard Castle Town Council after feuding members met to settle their differences.

The conduct of Councillor John Watson was called into question by two furious colleagues.

Couns Thom Robinson and Angela Grady claimed they were on the receiving end of libellous and defamatory remarks contained in an email sent by Coun Watson to clerk Michael King over the staging of Barnard Castle's bonfire night celebrations.

The three councillors were ordered by the other members to meet with Mr King in an effort to resolve their differences.

At the town council's December meeting, Mr King reported that a meeting had taken place at which Coun Watson made a verbal apology “for the way his email had been constructed.”

Mr King said this had been followed up in writing.

“The apology was made. The letter confirmed that and I consider the matter to be closed,” he said.